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Only 11.4 percent of Missouri public high school students who graduated last year had passed an AP test at least once in their school career, compared with a national average of 21.9 percent. Massachusetts had the most at 31 percent, and Mississippi had the least at 5.9 percent. Missouri’s rate has risen from 5.8 percent in 2006.

AP courses are often considered a basic qualification for admission to elite colleges and universities. They earn students college credit and correlate with higher graduation rates.

The number of students passing AP tests is low in Missouri partly because many public high schools don’t offer any AP courses . Participation rates also vary within high schools that do offer them.

According to an analysis by the Post-Dispatch of state data, out of the 460 school districts and charter schools that have high schools, only 30 percent enrolled students in AP courses in 2016.

State education officials point out that 415 school districts and charter schools with high schools offer at least one course with , which allows high school students to earn college credit while completing high school courses. About 140 school districts and charter schools with high schools offer dual enrollment, in which students enroll in college courses during high school. Dual credit is more often accepted at state colleges or universities.